Lucroy leads Brewers past Nats

Jonathan Lucroy, Carlos Gomez and Jean Segura had an RBI apiece during a go-ahead seventh inning, as the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Washington Nationals, 6-2, on Sunday.

Lucroy added a run-scoring single in the fourth and Ryan Braun had a sacrifice fly in the eighth for the Brewers, who have won seven of eight and sit 2 1/2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the NL's final wild card spot.

St. Louis defeated the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.

Yovani Gallardo gave up two runs on six hits over a five-inning start and Brandon Kintzler (3-0) earned the win with a scoreless sixth.

"He's our guy that we go to when we need to stop something going on and he usually pitches a great game," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said about Gallardo.

Chad Tracy and Jayson Werth both had a fifth-inning RBI for the Nationals, who have already clinched a playoff berth and have a magic number of six to wrap up the NL East.

Chien-Ming Wang got the start for Washington and allowed two runs on eight hits over four innings while Ryan Mattheus (5-3) gave up three runs in the seventh to take the loss.

"I thought (Wang) threw the ball well. I didn't want to go too many pitches with him, but I was pleased with the way he threw," Nationals manager Davey Johnson said.

A leadoff single by Rickie Weeks, a double by Aramis Ramirez and an intentional walk to Corey Hart loaded the bases in the seventh.

Lucroy then followed with an infield single to make it 3-2 and Carlos Gomez followed with a fly ball to right, which Werth lost in the sun, allowing Ramirez to score.

Segura's RBI groundout capped the three-run frame.

Jonathan Axford stranded a pair in the ninth to notch his 33rd save of the season.

Braun doubled to start the fourth and moved to third base on Hart's one- out single before Lucroy brought him home with a base hit to right.

Logan Schafer's subsequent double plated Lucroy for a 2-0 lead.

The Nationals tied it in the fifth on Tracy's RBI single and Werth's sacrifice fly.

Game Notes

Gallardo hasn't lost since July 27. He is 3-2 in eight games -- seven starts -- against the Nationals in his career ... Wang made his ninth appearance -- fifth start -- of the season ... Washington leads the season-series, 4-3.